Washing-machine.



H. L. LA FETRA.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION F lLED JUNE I. ran.

1,258,690. Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

(a: 3 SHEET$SHEET I.

INVENTOR W42 Afro/Mr H. L. LA FETRA.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATlON FILED JUNE 1. 1917.

Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HUM!

H. L. LA FETRA.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 19!].

1,258,690. Patented Mar. 12, 1918 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

IINVENTOR 064', M 6% A HORNE) HARRY L. LA IETBA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification 01' Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

Application filed June 1, 1917. Serial No. 178,154.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY Lnnon LA FETRA, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York cit in the county of New York and State 0 New York, have invented certain new and useful Washing- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to washin machines, more particularly to those a apted for washing, scouring and cleansing articles of apparel or the like which are of fine and delicate texture, for example, curtains, fine lace-work, underwear, blankets, and even human hair, in fact, any material which can not withstand the rough handling involved in the ordinary methods of washing.

The invention has for its object to accomplish the washing of such articles in "a simple, thorough and expeditious and economical manner, there being no handling of the material except in the feeding of same to the machine, thus obviatin the use of centrifugal drying devices an eliminating the numerous handlings involved in the processes in present use. Suitable rinsing and starching means, as well as preliminary soaping means, ma be provided inconnection with the mac ine herein disclosed, if desired.

The nature of the invention will be best understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, with portions broken away to disclose the mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine with tanks omitted.

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views illustrating the scrubbing rollers and manner of mounting same.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawin 1O designates a suitable frame or stan ard carrying a table 11 whose upper portion presents the working'surface over which the articles to be cleansed are brought in manner hereinafter set forth. The said table 11 rests upon a lurality of springs 12 disposed along the si es of theframe 10-(Fig. 3) being held in suitable ockets or channels 12' secured thereto. The upper ends of .these springs bear against the under surface of the and table, and their lower ends rest upon lates or disks 13, which are movable throug adjusting screws 14 to determine the degree of tension placed upon the table 11. The 60 upper travel of th s table is limited by means of lateral projections 15 extending inwardly from the said frame 10.

Above the said table is mounted a suitable receptacle or tank 20 adapted to contain thewashing and cleansing solution, for example, a soap solution or other suitable cleansing liquid, as of a special soap or soda.

A similar tank 21 is located beneath the table at the bottom of the frame; and at a slight distance below said table, and between the same of said table 21,- is afurther tank or catch-basin 22 to receive the waste solution resulting from the washing of the articles as the same are brought over table 11. Suitable spray-pi cs 23 disposed transversely to the length 0 said table may be employed to distribute washing solution over the said table in order to furnish an additional sup ly, if required.

To conve the solution from the tanks 20 and 21 to t e table where the same is to be employed in washing the articles, endless bands 24: of suitable fabric, such as linen crash, toweling or canvas, are arranged to be moved over the top of the table 11one operating through the upper tank and the other through the lower tank. A slight separation is possible between the two as they pass over the said table. For this purpose and in order to admit the article to be cleansed between the two said bands, the upper one,passes over an up r and springpressed feed roller 25 and t e lower over a lower feed roller 26 located at the forward end of the table. Before entering between these rollers, however, the lower of the bands 24 is first brought over a roller 27 located in front of the roller 26 and affords thereby a table or platform 28 upon which the articles to be washed may be placed for feeding the same onto the w table. At the back of the table, squeeze ro ers 29 and 30 are provided as well as an exit table 31, which latter is formed by the lower band 24 in passing over a roller 32 located beyond said table end.

In addition to the squeeze rollers 29 and 30, .a throw-ofl' roller 33 is provided 1n proximi to the roller 29, being corrugated or suitab y roughened or provided with rubber strips and driven in a direction to oppose the movement bf the upper band in order to insure of the article washed being released or detached therefrom. In similar manner, a throw-off roller 34 is provided in proximity to the roller-82, and preferably below same, as shown, to prevent the cleansed article from being taken along with the lower of the bands 24, said article being discharged at the back of the machine and treated in any further manner as may be desired.

The motion imparted to the bands 24 for the purpose of conveying an article to be washed across the table 11, as well as to supply the cleansing liquid thereto, is not continuous but intermittent and is derived from any suitable prime mover (not shown) as through a belt 40. This belt drives a pulley 41; and through intermediate mechanism and chains 42, cam members 43 are rotated. The said cam members 43 are arranged to engage the teeth of toothed wheels 44 to intermittently rotate said wheels, as

is well understood, the rotation thereof being so timed that both bands are advanced simultaneously and in predetermined relation to scrubbing devices hereinafter described. From the toothed wheels 44, intermittent rotation is conveyed to the feed and squeeze rollers at the respective ends of the machine as through suitable belts 45 or the like, and thereby affording an intermittent advance of the said bands 24. The throw off rollers 33 and 34 are actuated directly 35 from the motion of the pulley wheel 41 through belts 46 and 47, and do not partake of the intermittent motion aforesaid but rotate continuously. p

Above the table'is arranged one or more sets of scrubbing devices, the same being more particularly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. These devices consist of a pair of sprocket wheels 50 and 51, at each side of the machine, one pair of sprockets,

for example the sprockets 50, of a set, being the driving sprockets. The latter aresuitably actuated through shafts 52 and intermediate gearing from the pulley 41, while the other sprockets 51 of a set are mounted upon shafts 53 free to rotate in suitable bearings. Suitable sprocket chains 54 are driven by the sprocket wheels 50, generally so that their lower portions adjacent to the table surface move in the direction of, and 55. substantially parallel with, the advance movement of the bands 24. Each set of sprocket chains carries a plurality of scrubbing rollers 55 which extend transversely to the longitudinal stretch of the table, and may be of wood, metal, hard or soft rubber, or other suitable material and depending on the character of work for which they are to be employed. The said rollers-"are roughened or corrugated, preferably in the direc- 05 tion of their length, and each is so mounted In this manner, the rollers do not come .roller is about to leave the said table. In

the arrangement herein disclosed, the various rollers 55, comprising a scrubbing member, are preferably equidistantly spaced, with the exception of two particular adja- I cent rollers which are separated a greater distance than the normal spacing of the remaining rollers to afford an appreciable space between the sprocket chain carrying the said rollers and the upper surface of the table or rather the upper of the two bands 24. During the period that this portion of the scrubbing device is passing over the table 11, the cam devices 43 come into action to rotate the toothed wheel 44, and effect thereby the advance of the bands 24 and. contained article to be washed. This ad-' Vance, therefore, takes place under conditions where there is no resistance other than the frictional resistance offered the said bands in passing over the various rollers and table, surface, the scrubbin device temporarily being entirely out 0 action. As soon as a corrugated roller 55 approaches the table surface, the advance movement of the bands 24 ceases and a said roller, disposedtransversely with respect to the said advance movement, engages the bands 24 and rolls over and scrubs any material contained therein during its forward movement under the action of the sprocket chain.

directly in contact with the article being washed, the same being retained. between the two bands 24 which are thoroughly saturated with washing liquid, the latter being eventually removed to a large degree by the squeeze rollers 29 and 30 at theend of the machine.

In mounting thescrubbing devices. relatively to the table surface, provision is made for adjusting the height of the said roller surfaces above the table surface, and thereby the degree of pressure exerted by said rollers upon the bands 24. It is to be understood, also, that a counter-pressure is provided by the springs 12 bearing against the under face of the table 11. The sag of the chain permits this adjustment,,i'1rthat a plate 60, adjustably secured to theframe. 10, presents an under surface 61, upon which asmall roller 62 of the scrubbing rollers bears, thus forcing the entire scrub ing rollers toward the table 11,.or permitting same to be forced upwardly therefrom as the case may be. This furthermore, insures a more thorough and effective scrubbing action as the desired tension can be made to suit by adjusting springs 12, the upper limit of movement beapproved or special manner upon the sprocket chains 54:. Reference being had more particularly to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the said rollers are free to rotate upon a shaft 63 which has secured at each end a chain attaching member 64 of any well known construction, and beyond same is located the roller 62 hereinbefore referred to, and working against the surface 61 to steady the action and to afford an adjustment.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine of the character set forth: a pair of cooperating endless bands between which the article to be cleansed is adapted to be fed; a table over which said bands travel; means to impart an intermittent movement to said bands to advance the article over said table; and a plurality of scrubbing rollers movable over said table and adapted to engage a portion of the bands upon said table.

In a washing machine of the character set forth: a pair of cooperating endless bands between which the article to be cleansed is adapted to be fed; a table over which said bands travel; means to impart an intermittent movement to said bands to ad- Vance the article over said table; and a scrubbing member, comprising a plurality of rollers movable over said table and adapted to engage a portion of the bands thereon, said rollers being suitably spaced on said member, and two adjacent rollers thereof being separated a greater distance than the normal spacing of the remainder of the rollers to permit the said bands to be advanced relatively to said scrubbing member when this portion is presented over the table.

3. In a washing machine of the character set forth: a table; means to intermittently convey the article to be cleansed over said table; a plurality of scrubbing members adapted to engage said conveying means during a portion of its movement over the table, said scrubbing members comprisin a plurality of rollers movable over said ta 1e and adapted to engage a portion of the bands thereon said rollers being suitably spaced on said member, and two adjacent rollers thereof being separated a greater distance than the normal spacing of the remainder of the rollers to permit the said bands to be advanced relatively to said scrubbing member when this portion is presented over the table; and means to time the presenting of said abnormally-spaced portion of the scrubbing member to correspond to the period of movement of the conveying means over said table.

4:. In a washing machine of the character set forth: a pair of cooperating endless bands between which the article to be cleansed is adapted to be fed; a spring tensioned table over which said bands travel; means to impart an intermittent movement to said bands to advance the article over said table; a plurality of scrubbing rollers movable over said table and adapted to engage a portion of the bands upon said table; and means to adjust said scrubbing rollers relatively to the said table.

5. In a washing machine of the character set forth: a table; a washing solution tank above said table, and a washing solution tank below said table; an upper endless band passing through the said upper tank, and a lower endless band passing through the said lower tank, said bands being adapts ed to pass over the said table and retain between them the article to be cleansed over said table; means to impart an intermittent movement to said bands to advance the article over said table; and a plurality of scrubbing rollers movable over said table and adapted to engage a portion of the bands upon said table.

Signed at Plattsburg Camp, in the county of Clinton and State of New York this 24th day of May A. D. 1917.

HARRY L. LA FETRA.

WVitnesses:

CHARLES V. LACOMBE, JOHN H. WATSON. 

